the below post, from march of 2002, makes me a little sad. reason one: musiquarium is gone. to my strange delight, though, i’ve heard several people call it “the ol’ mq” lately—as in, “the old house on the hill”—and i liked it.
reason two: steve and bubba are gone now, steve up nawth to lecture at state, and bubba way up nawth to study law in new yawk city.
but i still have the songs and they still make me smile.
START TIME MACHINE
last nite i got to dj for the first time in years—not counting mixtapes &tc.—and i had a really good time. i’ve never dj’d in front of people and it was so great to see how they reacted, and what people liked.
i was a little british invasion/american 70’s powerpop heavier than i meant it to be. got a little drunk. not counting steve & woody & bubba cheese, who knew half the songs, there were three questions from folks who were having a good time, and bothered to stagger up to the dj roost and holler at me:
1. “what band was stiv bators in?” (i forgot; it was the dead boys, of “sonic reducer” fame)
2. “can you play more jerry lee lewis?” (after i played mickey gilley’s “all the girls look prettier at closing time,” which does indeed sound very killer) (my answer: “no, i don’t have any.” her: “then do you have any david gray?”)
3. some guy and phil telling me about double drum parts in the icicle works’ “from a whisper to a scream,” which i could never be sober enough to understand. jesus christ, i’m a nerd, but they’re like . . . they’re rhythm nerds.
i really like playing crystal gayle in the middle of everything; trust me, it fits! and people freak out. it is my new favorite and signature song. even though i stole the idea from kissing in manhattan, sort of.
note: all repetitions are accurate and reflect repeated play
8:30
blondie “union city blues”
beulah “if we can land a man on the moon, surely i can win your heart”
elvis costello “less than zero”
nick lowe “cruel to be kind”
ronettes “be my baby”
joan jett “bad reputation”
breakaways “one way ticket”
13th floor elevators “you’re gonna miss me”
husker du “don’t want to know if you are lonely”
the spells “can’t explain”
t. rex “20th century boy”
the sweet “wig-wam bam”
the donnas “wig-wam bam”
the jam “in the city”
9:06
the flamin’ groovies “paint it black”
pj harvey “sheela-na-gig”
spoon “lines in the suit”
john black attack “new dare radio”
yo la tengo “tom courtenay” (acoustic)
the searchers “needles and pins”
the troggs “with a girl like you”
the groovie ghoulies “a new england” (very drunk at this point)
stiv bators “make up your mind”
crystal gayle “why have you left the one you left me for”
richard hell and the voidoids “(i belong to the) blank generation”
9:42
sonic youth “catholic block”
flamin’ groovies “shake some action”
pezband “baby it’s cold outside”
the nerves “hangin’ on the telephone”
artful dodger “wayside”
earthquake “hit the floor”
johnny thunders “great big kiss”
runaways “cherry bomb” (wasted at this point)
10:00
sleater-kinney “milkshake n’ honey”
the clash “lost in the supermarket”
the jam “going underground”
sham 69 “if the kids are united”
stiff little fingers “alternative ulster”
the jags “back of my hand (i’ve got your number)”
replacements “color me impressed”
rondelles “angels we’ve heard on high”
white stripes “pretty good lookin’”
10:33
tourists “so good to be back home again”
blondie “x offender”
beulah “if we can land a man on the moon, surely i can win your heart” (x-trem drunkeness at this point: note song repetition—triggered by beer)
huey ‘piano’ smith & the clowns “don’t you just know it”
the gossip “sweet baby”
swingin’ blue jeans “hippy hippy shake”
murder city devils “johnny thunders”
johnny thunders “can’t put your arms round a memory” (acoustic)
sean-na-na “princess & the pony”
the knitters “cryin’ but my tears are far away” (getting maudlin)
x “see how we are” (moreso)
11:02
leadbelly “goodnight, irene” (not crying, but almost)
dion & the belmonts “ruby baby” (perking up!)
mickey gilley “all the girls get prettier at closing time” (rocking!!)
alkaline trio “radio” (fists in air!)
john black attack “pretty”
icicle works “from a whisper to a scream”
depeche mode “just can’t get enough” (uh-oh. coming down)
le tigre “get off the internet” (a mistake)
crystal gayle “why have you left the one you left me for”
the greatest cockney rejects “greatest cockney ripoff”
11:35
runaways “mama weer all crazee now” (i am out of music)
joan jett “do you wanna touch me (oh yeah!)”
stiv bators “make up your mind”
mc5 “teenage lust”
replacements “within your reach”
sleater-kinney “more than a feeling” (maudlin again)
social distortion “i was wrong”
12:00 a.m.
lloyd price “stagger lee” (can someone please drive me home? i can’t see my hands).